Culver counsels area residents to stay persistent

Cedar Rapidians just have to keep plugging at flood recovery, former Gov. Chet Culver said today.

“Our secret weapon, I guess, is our persistence,” Culver said. “The dedication, and the willingness to bring this community back is key to overcoming any obstacle.”

Culver, the Democrat who was in office during the June 2008 flood, was in town to celebrate the effort that went into the Human Services Campus. Home to 13 non-profit agencies, the $14 million building at 317 Seventh Ave. SE received $10 million from I-JOBS, the flood recovery and infrastructure pr0gram championed by Culver.

“There are a lot of projects in this city that are getting done thanks to that program,” said Rex Eno, chairman of the board that manages the HSC.

Culver joined Mayor Ron Corbett, city council members, and other local officials in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, followed by an open house.

Lastg week, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin warned the flood-protection phase of the city's recovery, specifically its bid for federal aid for $375 million worth of levees, flood walls, and other structures, may fall to congressional budget-cutting.

“From Day One, it's been competitive, very difficult” to win federal aid, Culver said.

Would voter approval of the proposed 20-year extension of the local-option sales tax send a message to Congress?

“I'm leaving that particular decision up to the local residents,” Culver said. “But I think it's obvious the ongoing needs are significant.”

Similarly, Mayor Ron Corbett's dispute with Gov. Terry Branstad over project labor agreements “is a local decision,” said Culver. “I'm a supporter of project labor agreements, (but) it's not the first time there have been differences of opinion.”

Now living in Des Moines, Culver operates a small consulting firm whose sole client so far is in the wind-energy field.